Author Topic: Does anyone hunt turkeys with a muzzleloading shotgun? (Read 2035 times)

Busta · « **on:** February 21, 2004, 04:55:35 AM »

I have two muzzleloading shotguns a White White Thunder 12ga and a Knight TK-2000 12ga. Both guns are very capeable turkey thumpers, but I prefer the White to the Knight.

Last spring I shot a Gobbler at 44 laser verified yards with the White Thunder. :-D The load of 1-7/8 oz of magnum #5 hard lead shot inside a Ballistics Products Turkey Ranger Shotcup (4 slits cut down to the bottom of second internal ring) over 90 grains of 777 FFG, topped off with 2 of my homemade styrofoam over shot wads! :-D Why 2 overshot wads, you might ask? By using 2 overshot wads, the second one acts like a jam nut on the first, if you have lost your load prematurely :roll: , you will understand! :wink: The styrofoam is light, seals out moisture, and doesn't swell or fail if wet from :rain: . :grin:

The White has a 25" ventilated ribbed, straight rifled (wad-lock) barrel with heavy duty screw-in chokes. It will shoot killing loads ot to 50 yds with the above mentioned combination! :biggun:

The Knight shoots good patterns, but lets just say that screw-in safety and my thumb don't get along well when you touch off a 2-1/2 oz load over 120 grains of 777 FFG! :eek: :cry:

I just wish H&R/NEF would make that 12ga muzzleloading "TURKEY THUMPER", that we have all been drooling over! you know, the one with the one with the ventilated rib, screw-in chokes, camo stock and forend, 209 ignition. Or maybe the one with Williams Fire-Sights, screw-in chokes, camo stock and forend, 209 ignition and of course drilled and tapped for scope mounting. :oh: :yeah:

What is your favorite gun and load?

[edit] Oh yea, I forgot to mention that I use a .665 extended choke tube. :wink:

MTNMAN · « **Reply #1 on:** February 21, 2004, 06:41:14 AM »

BaY,
In 30+ years of Turkey huntin' I've shot a number of Smooth bore smoke polls but never hunted Tommy with one... I like the Knight but still want NEF to produce the Huntsman in a smoothbore... figure it would be just about right for the Ol' Tired and war torn shoulders of mine... Started on tommy with a 12 gauge double shootin' 2 3/4" Lead #6's didn't have all these fancy loads back then, went thru a number of 12's all the way to an 1187 and a Kicks .655 turkey tube until I decided to build Lil' Tom my dedicated 20 gauge Turkey Thumper... Figure NEF should be able to sell us a barrel for are Huntsman's for about $39 to $79 Bucks... At that price Momma shouldn't mind too much... MTNMAN :grin:

WNY_Whitetailer · « **Reply #2 on:** February 21, 2004, 09:22:22 AM »

I would start hunting turkeys with a muzzleloading shotgun if H&R started manufacturing an accessory barrel for my current Huntsman. Until then I will continue to use the "Street Sweeper (NEF 10GA)."

bubba · « **Reply #3 on:** February 21, 2004, 01:12:54 PM »

I hav ehunted them with my T/C New Englander 12 guage. I had it reamed and threaded for the rem choke system. It works well with 85 grains of ffg gpoex and 1 1/2 ounces of 4 and 6 mixed.

Primer · « **Reply #4 on:** February 21, 2004, 02:05:37 PM »

Want One --- Need One, but don't have one yet! :cry:

Any of you folks have an opinion about the original 12 ga Huntsman,...I believe had a O-ring breech plug, and if I come across one......worried about their safe use and decision to purchase one.

In the mean time, will continue to use my trusty Rem 870 (shorter barrel turkey special with extra full Rem choke and sling ). If H&R makes the "dream" BP Turkey Thumper/Tominator.... my order / purchase is a nobrainer. :grin:

Tcallbuilder · « **Reply #5 on:** February 22, 2004, 06:31:53 AM »

Ive never tried a muzzleloading shotgun......but if H&R would biuld one for the huntsman and offer it through the barrel acc. program......i would order one in a heartbeat.
till then i guess ill stick with this partner.

TCB

daddywpb · « **Reply #6 on:** February 22, 2004, 12:20:17 PM »

Busta'yote,
I use my TK2000 on turkeys, and I have experienced the bloody thumb from the safety. I've learned to keep it out of the way. I'm going to try to find the Turkey Ranger wads that you mentioned to try. Also, what do you use to cut your overshot wads out of styrofoam? I tried to do that myself, but never found a good way to cut them out. I have had the cardboard wads move forward - I'm sure styrofoam would work better. I've use my TK2000 on turkeys, doves, crows and rabbits. It's a lot of fun.
Steve

Busta · « **Reply #7 on:** February 22, 2004, 01:14:19 PM »

daddywpb,

You can find them Turkey Ranger wads here along with others, check out there free for downloading manuals next to the wads. There is alot of wads out there, these are by far the best out of my White, never shot them out of the Knight. I am not too fond of the back boring and JUG choke in the Knight TK-2000! I like the .665 Hastings II choke in my White. :grin:

http://www.ballisticproducts.com/bpi_homepage/products/prod_components/t3components/wads/t4-wads/huntingwads/turkeyranger/Turkeyranger.htm

[edit] I almost forgot, I use an old choke tube for a cutter and Duro-Vent styrafoam from any home improvement store. (Duro-Vent is the foam channel that they put between the rafters to allow ventilation through the insulation, just incase you were not aware) I punch/cut them one at a time then push them back out from the front of the tube with a dowel. It helps to put a slight edge on the end of the choke tube, just make sure it is one you will never put back in a gun!

raynor · « **Reply #8 on:** February 22, 2004, 01:41:37 PM »

Haven't tried it yet, planning on getting a TK-2000 within the next month or so. Unless someone talks me into something different! You guys with the TK's, would you buy another one or something else? Help me out, I'm definately getting some sort of blackpowder scattergun for Spring season. Many years ago I had a New Englander and a double blackpowder shotgun, neither had screw in chokes and didn't pattern very well. Ended up selling both, now with the screw in chokes I'd like to try it again. Thanks, ~~ SV

Busta · « **Reply #9 on:** February 25, 2004, 05:27:13 PM »

SV,

I wouldn't buy another one, only because I'm kinda fond of my thumb! I don't like the back-boring and screw on "JUG choke". It does allow you to load through the choke though. I think if I were going to buy a Knight, I would seek out their older MK-86 Shotgun. It has a smoothbore barrel with screw-in chokes. Toby B still shoots one, along with the Lenartz 12 ga, another fine shotgun that Toby praises, that doesn't get much press.

My White Thunder will shoot better patterns at longer ranges with less shot and powder than my TK-2000. I like the .665 Hastings II screw-in choke and wad-lock vent ribbed barrel! Just more practical and with Warne QD Rings, a flick of the lever will open up the ribbed barrel for upland birds and other small game. You do have to remove the choke, unless you use the tapered shot cups, which I do not. Check one out soon, because I am not sure if they will be making any more of them. They are marketed under the Tominator and White Thunder names.

daddywpb · « **Reply #10 on:** February 26, 2004, 02:04:56 PM »

SV,
The only load in my TK2000 that has gotten my thunb is the 3 1/2" wad and 120 grains of Pyrodex. My gun patterns better with 100 grains, and if I want heavier powder charges I keep my thunb off the top of the stock. It's never been a big problem for me. In my opinion, being able to load through the choke tubes is a big plus - it makes reloading easier and quicker. With the Knight, the choke tubes screw on the outside of the barrel. The back boring is supposed to keep the patterns tighter - mine will keep a tight killing pattern on a head/neck target at 40 yards with copper plated #4's and a little buffer poured in with the shot. That's good enough for me. I can't comment on the White. I've handled one at a gun show, but never shot one.

Cuts Crooked · « **Reply #11 on:** March 11, 2004, 03:44:24 PM »

I've taken four turkey with my OLD CVA Trapper. It's one of the very early ones with the screw in choke tubes and came with an accessory .50 rifle barrel. (I've taken two deer with .50 barrel on it too) This one is not one of the newer Commemorative releases from CVA, it has the full length under barrel rib and has no butt plate, just smooth wood.

I load 90 gr of 3F, over powder/cushion wads from Circle Fly and 1 1/8 oz of #6 shot in a paper tube. With the full choke tube in, this loading gives me soccor ball sized patterns at 25 yard, and is absolute murder on the Turkey! :-)

BTW, interesting to find this forum here!!! I used to own a .45 H&R Huntsman many years ago, one of those supposed dangerous grenades! :eek: It was actually an extrodinarily accurate gun and very dependable in the field! Kinda wish I still had it!

H&R BANG · « **Reply #12 on:** March 12, 2004, 01:44:29 PM »

Cuts Crooked,

Would you recommend the new Trapper? It has a fixed modified choke. Can you load through the choke tube, or do you have to remove it?

I like the looks of the traditional sidelocks over these new fangled in-lines. I do have a Huntsman barrel though.

Cuts Crooked · « **Reply #13 on:** March 13, 2004, 08:43:53 AM »

H&R,

I think I would recommend it if ya like the looks of it, I don't care for the look of the partial underrib myself. Also, the length of pull on them is a bit on the long side for shooting from a seated position, that's easy enuff to fix though!

As to loading through the choke, I've never had a problem loading, even through my full choke tube. But then, I don't use plastic shot cups or any of the new fangled methods of loading. I just dump in the powder, insert an over powder wad edgewise, turning it to "Full face the bore" once it's started, then cushion wads go in with ease, then my shot charge in a paper tube, followed by an overshot wad inserted edge wise and then turned, like I do the over powder wads.